UNITED STATES - In a major victory against online child exploitation, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has announced the successful outcome of Operation Grayskull, a coordinated effort that led to the takedown of four of the dark web’s most egregious child sexual abuse material (CSAM) websites. Eighteen individuals have been convicted so far, collectively sentenced to more than 300 years in federal prison, with others still awaiting sentencing.

“Today’s (July 23, 2025) announcement sends a clear warning to those who exploit and abuse children: you will not find safe haven, even on the dark web,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Matthew R. Galeotti. “Thanks to the relentless determination of our prosecutors and law enforcement partners we have exposed these perpetrators for who they are, eliminated their websites and brought justice to countless victims.”

Among those sentenced is Thomas Peter Katsampes, 52, of Eagan, Minnesota, who pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise and distribute CSAM. Katsampes was sentenced this week to 250 months in prison, lifetime supervised release, and ordered to pay $23,000 in restitution. According to court documents, Katsampes escalated from posting CSAM to serving as a site moderator, enforcing rules and coaching others on how to distribute material anonymously.

“This operation represents one of the most significant strikes ever made against online child exploitation networks,” said FBI Director Kash Patel. “We’ve not only dismantled dangerous platforms on the dark web, but we’ve also brought key perpetrators to justice and delivered a powerful message: you cannot hide behind anonymity to harm children.”

Operation Grayskull targeted sites that distributed material depicting infants, toddlers, and acts of violence, sadism, and torture. These platforms included detailed instructions on how to evade law enforcement using advanced technologies.

“Thomas Peter Katsampes and his co-conspirators ran some of the dark web’s most heinous networks... Operation Grayskull has shut these sites down and delivered justice,” said U.S. Attorney Hayden P. O’Byrne for the Southern District of Florida.

Among other convicted offenders:

• William Michael Spearman of Alabama was sentenced to life in prison.
  Pleaded guilty to engaging in a child exploitation enterprise.
  Ordered to pay $123,400 in restitution to victims of his offense.

• Keith David McIntosh of Michigan received 55 years in prison.
  Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise child pornography.
  Guilty to conspiracy to distribute child pornography,
  Guilty as a person with a prior conviction for possession of child pornography.

• Joseph Addison Martin of Washington was sentenced to 42 years in prison.
  Pleaded guilty to engaging in a child exploitation enterprise.
  Ordered to pay $174,500 in restitution to victims of his offense.

• Selwyn David Rosenstein of Florida received 28 years in prison.
  Pleaded guilty to conspiracy to advertise child pornography,
  Guilty to five counts of advertisement of child pornography,
  and Guilty to possession of child pornography.
  Ordered to pay $80,500 in restitution to victims of his offense.

MORE ARRESTED: In other judicial districts around the country, nine additional individuals have been convicted for their involvement with these websites, including the following:

• Charles Hand, of Aberdeen, Maryland, was prosecuted in the District of Maryland and was sentenced to 14 years in federal prison;
• Michael Ibarra, of Wenatchee, Washington, was prosecuted in the Eastern District of Washington and was sentenced to 12 years in prison;
• Clay Trimble, of Fordyce, Arkansas, was prosecuted in the Eastern District of Arkansas and was sentenced to 18 years in prison;
• David Craig, of Houston, Texas, was prosecuted in the Southern District of Texas and was sentenced to nine years in prison;
• Robert Rella of Chesapeake, Virginia, was prosecuted in the Eastern District of Virginia and was sentenced to five years and eight months in prison;
• Samuel Hicks, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, was prosecuted in the Northern District of Indiana and was sentenced to 16 years in prison;
• Richard Smith of Dallas, Texas, was prosecuted in the Eastern District of Texas and was sentenced to 14 years in prison;
• Patrick Harrison, of Grand Rapids, Michigan, was prosecuted in the Western District of Michigan and was sentenced to five years and ten months in prison.
• Thomas Gailus, of Webbers Falls, Oklahoma, was prosecuted in the Eastern District of Oklahoma, and his sentencing is pending.

Arrests were also made internationally in the United Kingdom, Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Estonia, Belgium, and South Africa.

This massive effort was led by the FBI’s Child Exploitation Operational Unit and coordinated through the DOJ’s Child Exploitation and Obscenity Section (CEOS) as part of Project Safe Childhood, a federal initiative established in 2006 to combat internet-based child abuse.

To date, nine other offenders were convicted in districts across the country, with one additional sentencing pending and two perpetrators deceased before being charged.

DISCLAIMER: All suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The arrest records or information about an arrest that are published or reported on NewsRadio WGNS and www.WGNSradio.com are not an indication of guilt or evidence that an actual crime has been committed.

• For more information about Project Safe Childhood, visit: www.justice.gov/psc
• For further details on Operation Grayskull (news article above), Click Here.